For Gerald Harris, Legacy Fighting 10 headliner is a coveted chance to be seen

Gerald Harris could tour the small-show circuit, crack skulls while facing unknown opponents, and rack up a gaudy win streak.

But he knows such a scenario would do very little to get him back in the UFC or another major promotion.

Instead, he’s excited about opportunities such as Friday’s Legacy Fighting Championships 10 headliner, where – despite a smaller paycheck – he can fight on national TV against a tough, proven opponent.

Harris (19-4) fights former heavyweight D.J. Linderman (10-2) in a middleweight bout that serves as the main event of Legacy 10. The show takes place at Houston’s Arena Theater, and the main card airs live on HDNet.

Harris is probably best known for his UFC career. After an appearance on “The Ultimate Fighter 7,” the IFL vet returned to the regional circuit and put together a 10-fight win streak. Then, when UFC president Dana White was a special guest, Harris called into MMAjunkie.com Radio (www.mmajunkie.com/radio) and campaign for a UFC contract, which matchmaker Joe Silva issued soon after.

Harris won his first three UFC fights – and picked up “Knockout the Night” bonuses in victories over John Salter and Dave Branch – but the UFC surprisingly released him following a lackluster decision defeat to Maiquel Falcao at UFC 123.

On Wednesday, he again called into MMAjunkie.com Radio to talk about the sometimes-hard-to-navigate regional-show waters. Financing a pro career outside the UFC is tough, but he knows Legacy provides the opportunities he needs.

“Let’s be realistic,” Harris said. “I’m 32. It’s about making the most money you can and do the most with your career. I want to fight as much possible and get as much income as I can. These fights here, you can state the obvious: They don’t pay a whole lot like the big shows.

“But you stay busy, and I’m fighting a tough opponent. It’s good for my career. This isn’t a financing fight, but it’s good for my career.”

Harris has fought three times since his UFC release and won the past two. First he defeated former Strikeforce title challenger Anthony Ruiz at a Tachi Palace Fights event that streamed online, and then he edged Kazuhiro Nakamura at DREAM.17, which aired on HDNet.

Linderman, who’s lost his gut and overhauled his physique in recent months, could allow Harris to garner a third impressive victory. And just as importantly, it could get people talking.

“I can fight on local shows twice a month and fight unknown guys with horrible records, but it’s not going to do anything but put a little change in my pocket,” he said. “A guy like D.J., he has Bellator experience, and he’s fought all the way up to heavyweight. He’s a quality opponent.

“People actually get to see my performance too. If not, they go on the Internet and see I knocked out a guy … but they don’t know how tough that guy was. They don’t know how the fight went.”

That’s why the TV exposure is so important, he said. And that’s why he lines up for opportunities like he did with Legacy.

“When people can actually see you, that’s a benefit,” he said. “Regardless of what you’re getting paid or who you’re fighting, if you can find a way to fight on TV, that is your best bet. That gets people talking.

“I can win 10 fights in a row by knockout, but if nobody seems them, they don’t care. But if they see me knock out five guys in a row, that gets them talking. They’re like, ‘Someone need to sign this guy.'”

If he can get back in the UFC – after all, few guys get cut following a 3-1 run in the world’s top MMA promotion – Harris can put a little more thought into specific fights. But for now, with just one fight in the past five months, his focus is on exposure and quality of competition.

The other stuff can wait.

“When you get to the big show, that’s when you have a little more planning,” he said. “It’s like, ‘This opponent may give me a title shot, and I’m going to get paid really good.’ These types of situations I’m in, it’s just about finding quality opponents and getting enough money to get by.

MMAjunkie.com Radio broadcasts Monday-Friday at noon ET (9 a.m. PT) live from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino’s Race & Sports Book. The show is hosted by Gorgeous George, MMAjunkie.com lead staff reporter John Morgan and producer Goze. For more information or to download past episodes, go to www.mmajunkie.com/radio.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.